Travel advice for Montenegro
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Montenegro
Book your individual trip, stress-free with local travel experts
written by Heidi Fuller-Love
updated 19.06.2019
Fringed by the Adriatic on one side and rugged mountains on the other, Montenegro (the name means "Black Mountain") makes an ideal introduction to Eastern Europe. It's peaceful and safe and is a great destination for solo travellers. Our first timer's guide to Montenegro will help you get your bearings for a trip to this small yet beautiful place.
17 days / from3432 USD
Balkan Puzzle
A visit to the Balkans is an incredible experience, get ready for memorable flavours of the traditional cuisine and hospitable locals while you explore the sights: stunning panoramic views, tiny to the Adriatic coastline, idyllic and fertile valleys, pristine rivers and lakes.
customize ⤍7 days / from1771 USD
A Montenegro Adventure
This is exactly what it sounds like - a trip that will take you across the small, yet magical country of Montenegro and allow you to explore its beauty from the stunning coast on the South, to the mountains and lakes on the North.
customize ⤍9 days / from1983 USD
Epic Montenegro
Do you want to experience the joy, both of simple mountain life as well as the modern, luxurious spirit of the coast, then Montenegro is just the right place for you! Enjoy rafting, canyons, national parks and old towns and make your trip unforgettable.
customize ⤍10 days / from2349 USD
Southern Pearls
This ten-day trip will take you around three adjacent countries, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Your tour starts in Split, Croatia, moving south (hence the name "Southern Pearls") over the island of Hvar and Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina to end up in Montenegro.
customize ⤍14 days / from2833 USD
Serbia & Montenegro
If you are curious and looking for a remarkable journey filled with true wilderness, lovely people and life-changing adventures then Serbia & Montenegro are a must-visit! Enjoy the diverse UNESCO sites, glorious mountain peaks and crystal blue waters during this exciting 14-day trip.
customize ⤍13 days / from3182 USD
Balkan Extended
The Balkan Extended tour truly showcases the finest of Balkan’s heritage and natural beauty as you make your way through the 5 countries. Learn about the Serbian Athens, climb the splendid Old Bridge in Mostar, observe Slovenia's water castle and dive into the pearl of Croatia's beauty in Istria.
customize ⤍10 days / from2593 USD
Balkan & Adriatic
The most relaxing Balkan & Adriatic tour! This trip is for travellers who are interested in visiting different locations in the Balkans but prefer a comfortable way of travelling. Get to know parts of Serbia, Montenegro and the beautiful towns of Croatia, all while travelling at a slow pace.
customize ⤍12 days / from4577 USD
Croatia and Slovenia: An Adriatic Adventure
This expansive trip celebrates the splendour of Croatia and Slovenia, with their wondrous hilltop towns and stunning cities, such as Dubrovnik, Ljubljana and Split. Experience the wine and olive oil-making traditions of these two countries, and go truffle hunting on the Istrian Peninsula.
customize ⤍12 days / from2987 USD
Nature & Culture
Inspired by timeless natural and cultural landmarks of the area, this trip is taking you through the highlights of Croatia, Southern part of Bosnia & Herzegovina and coastal Montenegro.
customize ⤍10 days / from2212 USD
Balkan Essentials
The Balkans are stunning and you will have a chance to experience their beauty during this 10 day-multiple country trip. Feel the welcoming vibe of Belgrade, visit Kotor, Europe's unmissable town, walk down the famous Bridge on Drina and observe stunning Plitvice Lakes.
customize ⤍10 days / from1988 USD
Explore the Balkans
Enjoy the sights of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia in one trip - the best of the Balkans! Stroll through the old towns, marvel at the historic buildings and stunning natural landscapes as you make your way through these four interesting countries.
customize ⤍From stunning scenery and beautiful beaches to thrilling activities and sumptuous food, this bite-sized Balkan country which sits between Europe and Asia offers something for every taste. The beach-studded coastline of this country, which was once a member the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, is dotted with small fishing villages, ancient churches, and fortified towns, but the uncontested star of Montenegro’s striking seascape is its UNESCO-recognised Bay of Kotor.
Head inland along winding mountain roads and you’ll find remoter destinations such as the dense bear- and wolf- thronged forests of the Durmitor National Park, Biogradska Gora’s primeval forest or the Tara Canyon, Europe's Grand Canyon and a popular base for white-water rafting.
Despite adopting the Euro in 2002, Montenegro is still budget-friendly with plenty of great value accommodation options ranging from sobe, the clean simple rooms rented by private house owners, to luxury resorts where rooms, especially outside of the summer season, are surprisingly affordable.
Thinking of visiting Montenegro? We can help! Our new tailor-made trip service will connect you with a local expert to plan and book a trip designed especially for you.
The Djurdjevica bridge over the river Tara in Montenegro © Miroslava Durcatova/Shutterstock
Food is great value, too and there's a host of traditional dishes to taste. Must tries include meltingly tender smoked prosciutto from the mountain village of Njegusi, the shellfish and prawn dish buzara and the local Vranac wines. If you’re on a tight budget look out for cevabdzinicas: grilled meat shops where you can fill up on beef and pork cevapi sausages for cheap.
Hire cars are relatively inexpensive, too and it’s best to have your own transport if you want to really explore. Although slower and less frequent, there are also buses that travel to most of the main sights, but for panoramic views you can’t beat the slow train which runs between Bar and Belgrade via Podgorica and Skadar lake.
The beautiful Bay of Kotor, known locally as Boka (which just means ‘the bay’) is a water wonderland dotted with ancient churches and medieval and Venetian-era settlements. The best way to explore is to take a boat trip with an outfit like Kotor Bay Tours. Stop offs en route include The Blue Cave, a grotto surrounded by brilliant turquoise waters and Our Lady of the Rocks, an artificial island which, according to legend, was created some five centuries ago after two brothers discovered an ancient Madonna icon on a rock here. Longer boat trips will also stop over at Perast, a tiny atoll described as ‘the Montenegrin Venice’ because of its streets lined with ancient churches and Baroque palaces that were once home to Russian Czars and Venetian Princes.
The beautiful Bay of Kotor © canadastock/Shutterstock
Back in Kotor town lace up your trainers and hike the 1,355 steps alongside the great wall that once protected the city from invaders, to reach the top of mount Sveti Ivan. Pause to take in the views over the glittering bay far beneath, then head back to explore Kotor town’s tangled web of cobbled streets, lined with honey stone buildings that are home to tiny restaurants, and stores selling everything from sun cream to local fruit brandy rakija and traditional black and red kapa hats.
Back in the bay have lunch at Verige65 – a restaurant with panoramic views of the Verige strait – whose modern take on local dishes includes a delectable prosciutto dish, served with homemade sausage and local cheese. Spend the night at Portonovi resort, an elegant waterfront resort close to the laidback town of Herceg Novi (and some of the bay’s best beaches), which was built to look like a traditional village. Alternatively, head for Hervceg Novi town and bag a budget bed at Guesthouse Tomanovic.
Further along the coast, Budva, known as ‘the Montenegrin Miami’ because of its beautiful (but crowded) beaches and lively (but expensive) nightlife scene, is a good starting point for boat trips to visit pretty St. Nicholas Island and some of the region’s best beaches. An hour or so inland from Budva, Skadar, which is Southern Europe’s largest lake, sits on the border with neighbouring Albania. Also known as Shkodra, Shkodër or Scutari, this vast stretch of water is a haven for migrating birds and rare species, including big beaked Dalmatian pelicans and a host of rare and exotic lizards. The best way to explore is to hop on one of the small fishing boats that shuttle back and forth over the lake’s lily-strewn waters.
Budva from the air © Tjasa Razinger/Shutterstock
From here it’s a few hours drive, or bus ride to Durmitor National Park, home of the spectacular, 1.3km deep Tara Canyon which is the world’s second deepest, right after Arizona's Grand Canyon. High flung capital Zabljak, with its restaurants serving traditional food and its great value sobes makes an ideal base for exploring this wild and lovely region. Whether you choose to swim in the Back Lake’s icy waters, zipline across the Tara Canyon or take an exhilarating white water rafting trip along the Tara River, this is the perfect place to end your first trip through one of Eastern Europe’s most fun and friendly countries.
Find more ideas for your trip to Montenegro in our guide to the best things to do in Montenegro.
Top image: Kotor seen from Sveti Ivan fortress © eFesenko/Shutterstock
written by Heidi Fuller-Love
updated 19.06.2019
Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Montenegro
Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert
Book securely with money-back guarantee
Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support